Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary on Thursday afternoon, launching a blistering attack on the prime minister. While the ambitious MP is not expected to trigger an immediate official leadership contest, the intervention has dented Sir Keir Starmer's already ailing authority and made a challenge in the coming weeks even more likely. Here, we examine what Mr Streeting said in his letter – and what exactly he meant.
'Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift'
Wes Streeting here is homing in on one of the most common criticisms of the prime minister – that he lacks a vision for government. The PM's ideological pragmatism is perhaps what won him his landslide election victory, as he was able to shapeshift into a party leader that brought together a broad – albeit shallow – coalition to secure the keys to No 10. But it is also what has caused him to struggle so much while in office. He is much more of a technocrat than a visionary, and it means that the prime minister appears to have become increasingly bogged down with the day-to-day running of the country, rather than putting in place the sweeping change that he promised, and that voters feel they so desperately need.
'Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords'
Sir Keir Starmer has overseen a massive staff turnover in senior positions across government, as he repeatedly attempted to reset the agenda amid growing criticism of his premiership. From Sue Gray – his former chief of staff who was sacked just a few months into the government – to Foreign Office chief Sir Olly Robbins, the prime minister has ousted a number of key players in his administration. Mr Streeting here is making clear he thinks it's time for the prime minister to fall on his own sword, rather than allowing others to take the fall for him as he has done so many times before.
'You also need to listen to your colleagues, including backbenchers, and the heavy-handed approach to dissenting voices diminishes our politics'
Mr Streeting's letter also highlights the claim that Sir Keir is unable to listen to advice, and pushes out dissenting voices. This has been seen in the tight control he exerted over his backbenchers, repeatedly stripping the whip from MPs who rebelled over things like the two-child benefit cap, or changes to welfare.
'It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election...'
The former health secretary is trying to make it clear he has the party's best interests at heart, rather than his own ambitions. While many people saw his resignation letter as the starting gun firing for a leadership challenge, his allies have now told The Independent that he won't be triggering a contest today, instead pointing to this line of the letter. It is becoming increasingly clear that Mr Streeting is trying to dodge accusations of being self-serving or overly ambitious, an accusation that would most certainly be levelled at him if he triggered a quick contest now before rival Andy Burnham – who is seen to be the most popular choice – has a chance to return to Westminster. Mr Streeting is also hoping the prime minister will choose to resign voluntarily, rather than force him to wield the knife and face accusations of treachery.
